Water mattress for a therapy water bed

Abstract

An arrangement in a water mattress (1) for a water bed, the water mattress (1) comprising a water bag (2) made from a flexible and water tight sheet material, which is provided in a frame (3) of a resilient material, intended to be supported, in use, by a firm surface, and where bottom (4) and top (5) of water bag (2) are mutually connected alongside the upper narrow edge (3a) of said resilient frame, the top of water bag (2) being secured to the frame (3). The bottom (4) of water bag (2) is in contact with inner inclined lateral surfaces (3b) of frame (3) and the supporting surface. Bottom (4) of water bag (2) is double with an intermediate air chamber (8) connected with a hose (9) for air supply. In top surface (8a) of air chamber (8) upwards projecting flexible air pockets (10) are provided which open towards air chamber (8 ). When air is supplied to air chamber (8) and air pockets (10), the air pockets will displace water in water bag (2), so that a person lying on the supporting surface of the water mattress will be supported by water and air in said air pockets (10).

I claim: 
     
       1. A water mattress for a water bed supported on a firm rigid surface comprising, a water bag of resilient water-tight sheet material, a frame of resilient foam material forming a wall around said water bag, said frame having a top free edge, a bottom base portion, an inner side surface and an outer side surface, said water bag having a top portion with lateral extensions depending alongside the outer side surface of said frame, said top portion being stretched across the top free edge of said frame and secured to said frame, said water bag further including a bottom portion extending along the inner side surface of said frame from the bottom base portion of the frame to the top edge of the frame, said top and bottom portions of said water bag being joined along the top free edge of said frame, a valve for dispensing water into said water bag and discharging water from said water bag, and wherein the bottom portion of said water bag includes two layers of said resilient water-tight sheet material with a space therebetween to define an intermediate air chamber, an air hose communicable with said air chamber to supply air to said air chamber and a plurality of hollow inflatable cylindrical air pocket members communicable with said air chamber and extending upwardly from the bottom portion of said water bag toward the top portion of said water bag and being free from connection with the top portion of said water bag. 
     
     
       2. A water mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable cylindrical air pocket members are elongated and distributed on the bottom portion of said water bag up to said frame. 
     
     
       3. A water mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable cylindrical air pocket members have at least two different cross-sectional dimensions to provide two different volumes for said inflatable cylindrical air pocket members. 
     
     
       4. A water mattress as claimed in claim 3 wherein said air chamber is divided into predetermined sections, and wherein air pocket members of corresponding cross-sections are grouped together, each said group being at a respective predetermined section of said air chamber and each said air chamber section being connected with a respective predetermined hose for supply of air. 
     
     
       5. A water mattress as claimed in claim 3 wherein said water mattress has opposite head and foot end portions and wherein said air pocket members of corresponding cross-sections are grouped together, one of said groups of cylindrical air pocket members having a first volumetric capacity being provided at the head and foot ends of the water mattress and the other said group of cylindrical air pocket members having a second volumetric capacity being provided intermediate the head and foot end portions of said water mattress. 
     
     
       6. A water mattress as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first group of inflatable cylindrical air pocket members have a larger volumetric capacity than the second group of inflatable cylindrical air pocket members. 
     
     
       7. A water mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inflatable air mattress is provided between the upper free ends of said inflatable cylindrical air pocket members and the top portion of said water bag, said inflatable air mattress including a hose for supplying air to said air mattress. 
     
     
       8. A water mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame is generally rectangular around said water bag and the inner side surface inclines away from the outer side surface in a direction from the top free edge portion to the bottom base portion of said frame and said air chamber extends alongside at least two opposite inner side surfaces of said frame. 
     
     
       9. A water mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water mattress has opposite head and foot end portions and said air chamber is longitudinally divided into a head end section, a foot end section and an intermediate section between the head and foot end sections and the inflatable cylindrical air pocket members at the head end section and the foot end section are of larger cross section than the inflatable cylindrical air pocket members at the intermediate section.